"SOMEBODY could have died."

That is the take of one councillor after a New Forest school was vandalised and had a piece of potentially life-saving equipment stolen.

After fundraising through the British Heart Foundation to secure one, Applemore College staff came in on Wednesday morning to see their defibrillator gone, with plant pots smashed and the school damaged.

Police are investigating the incident that happened between 1.15am and 1.45am, which saw the medical device, which delivers a dose of electric current to the heart, stolen.

New Forest district councillor Dan Poole, who represents Dibden and Hythe East, said someone could have died.

Cllr Poole said: “I know the school isn’t in full swing with students still on holiday, but somebody could have died if a member of staff would have needed it.

“Pranks go on all the time but when it comes to something as serious as a defibrillator, I hope lessons have been learned.

“I think social media played a big part in this as it was shared on Facebook a lot in a very short space of time to get the word out.”

The school funded the cost of the defibrillator, which can cost around £800 to £1,000, through national charity, the British Heart Foundation.

Sara Askew, head of survival at the charity, said every second is vital, which is why the equipment needs to be available and maintained in case of emergency.

Sara said: “Defibrillators are an important part of the chain of survival, along with calling the emergency services and starting CPR.

“When someone collapses with a cardiac arrest, every second is vital.

“Performing CPR and using a defibrillator can help double a person’s chance of survival.

“That’s why we need this equipment to be available and maintained so that it can be used in an emergency.”

The cabinet that houses the machine remained on the wall of the college, and the defibrillator itself has now been returned to police, but the incident remains under investigation.

A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said: “We received a report at 8.01am on August 30 of criminal damage at Applemore College between 1.15am and 1.45am.

“A defibrillator was taken and handed in to police later the same day.

“A 15-year-old boy from Dibden Purlieu voluntarily attended Lyndhurst Police Station and was interviewed under caution.

“Investigations are ongoing.

“If anyone has any information about this incident, please call 101 quoting 44170335574.”

The post was publicised on Facebook after staff discovered the damage and was shared more than 200 times.